State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito and the National Treasury are at loggerheads over the delayed payment of pensions for former Vice President Moody Awori and the spousal benefits of the widow of former Vice President the late George Saitoti.
At a meeting with the Administration and Internal Security Committee of the National Assembly, Mr Ole Metito revealed how the National Treasury has frustrated his efforts to ensure the former VP accesses his pension as provided for in the law.
Mr Ole Metito disclosed that he had made various correspondence to the National Treasury to include the pension amounts in the State House budget, but had yet to get a response.
State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“We have written letters to the National Treasury to allocate the amounts as required by the law, but we have not received any response from them. I don’t know why there is a delay,” said Mr Ole Metito as he tabled to the committee the letters he had written to the Treasury.
State House, whose accounting officer is the Comptroller, administers retirement perks of retired presidents, deputy presidents, and other designated state officers as appropriated by the National Assembly.
The Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act provides for the granting of pension and other retirement benefits to persons who hold the office of the Deputy President and persons who have served as Prime Minister, Vice-President, Speaker, Deputy Chief Justice, or Chief Justice after January 1, 1993.
Retirement benefits for Vice President
Mr Ole Metito revealed that Mr Awori, who served under the country’s third president, the late Mwai Kibaki, had never accessed his pension since he retired in 2007, despite numerous requests to the National Treasury.
“Mr Awori has never received any pension,” said Mr Ole Metito, adding, “I receive my pension for the 20 years I served as an MP, and it comes even before my salary as Comptroller hits my account.”
Mr Ole Metito served as MP for Kajiado South from 2003 until 2022. President William Ruto appointed him State House Comptroller in 2022 after his bid for the Kajiado county governorship failed.
Nevertheless, the Comptroller noted that the State provided vehicles to the retired Vice Presidents, which are serviced, and they enjoy medical cover as “we have uploaded their details to the Social Health Authority (SHA),” among other benefits.
The law states that a retired Deputy President or retired Vice-President shall, during his or her lifetime, be entitled to a monthly pension equal to 80 percent of the monthly salary of the entitled person's last monthly salary while in office.
There is also a lump sum payment on retirement, calculated as a sum equal to one year's salary paid for each term served in office, two saloon vehicles of an engine capacity “not exceeding 2000 cc, which shall be replaceable once every four years.”
Former Vice President Moody Awori delivers a speech during a past function.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The others include one four-wheel drive vehicle of an engine capacity not exceeding 3000cc, which shall be replaceable once every four years, and a fuel allowance equal to 15 percent of the current monthly salary of the office holder.
They are also entitled to a full medical and hospital cover, providing for local and overseas treatment, with a reputable insurance company for the entitled person, spouse, and children under 18 years, or is under 25 years and undergoing a course of full-time education “and in the case of a female child is not married or is not cohabiting with any person.”
Additional retirement benefits for a retired deputy president or retired vice-president include two drivers, one personal assistant, one accountant, one secretary, two housekeepers, two senior support staff, two cooks, two gardeners, two cleaners, and armed security guards “who shall be provided on request by the entitled person.”
The others are diplomatic passports for the entitled person and his or her spouse, office and office equipment, maintenance expenses for the vehicles provided by the State, and access to the VIP lounge II at all airports within Kenya.
Former Vice President Moody Awori during the launch of his autobiography 'Riding on a Tiger' in Nairobi on April 26, 2017.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The law further states that upon the death of an entitled person, a person who is entitled to a pension, “the surviving spouse of the entitled person shall be entitled to 50 per cent of the pension which was payable to an entitled person,” and shall not be allocated an office.”
In any case where there is more than one spouse entitled to benefits, the benefits shall be divided equally among all such spouses,” the law states.
The children's pension shall be payable for the benefit of an eligible child where an entitled person dies, and “if there is only one child, pension at the rate of 25 percent of the pension entitlement of the entitled person.”
In case there are two or more children, a pension at the rate of 50 percent of the pension entitlement of the deceased entitled person is to be divided equally for the benefit of each child.
